Candy spider orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Candy spider orchid |
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| Caladenia versicolor growing near Stawell | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Caladenia
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| Species: |
versicolor
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| Synonyms | |
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Arachnorchis versicolor (G.W.Carr) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. |
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The candy spider orchid (scientific name: Caladenia versicolor) is a beautiful and rare plant. It belongs to the orchid family and grows only in Victoria, Australia. This ground orchid has a single, slightly hairy leaf. Its flowers can be white, pink, or purplish. There are only about 1,000 of these plants left. Because it is so rare, the candy spider orchid is considered a "vulnerable" species.
What it Looks Like
The candy spider orchid is a plant that grows from the ground. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It also has an underground tuber, which is like a storage organ. The plant has one leaf that is 50–100 mm long and 6–8 mm wide. This leaf has a few hairs and sometimes reddish spots.
The orchid usually grows one or two flowers on a stem that is 150–250 mm tall. Each flower is about 50–60 mm wide. The flowers can be white, pink, or purplish.
Flower Parts
The flower has special parts called sepals and petals. These parts have thin, thread-like tips that are blackish or brownish.
- The top sepal, called the dorsal sepal, stands straight up. It is 40–60 mm long.
- The two side sepals are also 40–60 mm long and spread out.
- The petals are 30–37 mm long and look similar to the side sepals.
The most interesting part is the labellum, which is a special lip-like petal. It can be white, pink, or purplish. The labellum is 12–16 mm long and 7–9 mm wide. Its sides have small, narrow teeth. The tip of the labellum is curled under. There are also four to six rows of small bumps, called calli, along its center. These calli are pink or purplish.
The candy spider orchid blooms, or flowers, from September to November.
How it Got its Name
The candy spider orchid was first officially described in 1991. It was named by a scientist named Geoffrey Carr.
The scientific name, versicolor, comes from a Latin word. It means "of different colours." This name fits the orchid well because its flowers can be white, pink, or purplish.
Where it Lives
The candy spider orchid is found in only two places in Victoria, Australia.
- One group of plants, about 800 of them, lives south-west of Stawell.
- Another smaller group, with about 175 plants recorded in 2012, lives east of Balmoral.
These orchids grow in woodland areas.
Protecting the Orchid
The candy spider orchid is a very rare plant, and it needs our help to survive.
- In Victoria, it is listed as "endangered" under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.
- The Australian Government also lists it as "vulnerable" under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
There are a few main things that threaten this special orchid:
- Trampling: People or animals walking on the plants can damage them.
- Grazing: Wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) eat the plants, which stops them from growing and reproducing.
- Fire: The wrong kind of fires can harm the orchid's habitat.
Protecting these areas and managing threats helps keep the candy spider orchid safe for the future.
